Money Secrets of the Amish

Book Description
Discover the money-saving and wealth-building secrets of America’s thriftiest people, the Amish.
Author, journalist, and descendant of the Amish, Lorilee Craker, was just like the rest of us, feeling the pinch from the financial fallout of 2008. As a freelancer, her income was going the way of the dodo—family dollars seemed like an extinct myth, the bank account some archeological evidence of past prosperity.
Then, inspired by a news segment covering her people, the Amish, and how they emerged from the economic crisis unscathed, she realized it was time to get back to her roots and learn a thing or two about their time-tested approach to personal finances. While the middle-class was wringing its hands over the family budget and the wealthy were weeping over their slashed portfolios, the Amish were content as always, spared from the cares of the world and worldliness. They not only had financial health to support their lives, they exuded a wholeness that eludes so many when the financial bottom drops out.
In Money Secrets of the Amish, readers go on an “Amish money makeover,” learning the choices, secrets, and disciplines that safeguarded the contentment and the coffers of America’s favorite plain folk by spending less, saving more, and getting happier doing it.

My Review
The Amish and their ways of saving and making money have always been of interest to me, so I wanted to read this book to see what it was about. True, it is about the author’s way of saving money and pinching pennies, and she is not Amish, she was born a Mennonite, but it is some very good ideas in this book. It would have been more interesting written by an actual Amish person, but until one breaks out and writes a book about money, this one is great to read!

Having said that, it is a great help to anyone, especially couples and singles alike just starting out and wanting learn how to manage money better. It is also great for someone wanting to budget their money better. Some of the ideas in this book she has added from other books, or remedies she has heard and quoted from other people. There are a number of website references in this book as well. After each chapter there is a page titled “MY AMISH MONEY MAKEOVER” With tips and a place to write down notes for yourself.

A lot of these things I have heard about before, either from my grandparents and mom and dad, or from other sources, but its nice to have them all together in one book. Things like pay your bills on time to avoid extra charges, shopping at second hand stores and yard sales, using some of your ‘garbage’ such as egg cartons, all have been around for a while, and they are ideas a lot of people already use, but there are a few tips I hadn’t heard before. Also she has a lot about recycling, which is always helpful to learn how to use thing you would otherwise throw out.

Overall, I like this book. The author well organizes the book into sections that make it easy to find something you are looking for. And if you are one of these people that love finding ways to save money, this is a book you would like to have around. My son is trying to do better budgeting his money, and this is a helpful resource for him, learning how to pinch pennies. So go out and buy you a copy, and don’t just read it, do what it says, and you might just save a bit of money to pamper yourself with something you really don’t need, but just really want!!

I received this book free from the Thomas Nelson through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 55.